Endoscopy system

ABSTRACT

An endoscope system includes: a first light source unit having a first terminal to which power is supplied; a second light source having a second terminal to which power is supplied; a light guide unit for guiding light of the first and second light source units to the inside of a target object; an image sensing unit configured to sense the light reflected from the target object; and an image signal processing unit configured to process signal from the sensing unit and display on a display unit. The first light source unit includes first and second perimeter units, the second light source unit includes a third perimeter unit, and a fourth perimeter unit, and the first and second terminals are provided in the second perimeter unit or the fourth perimeter unit other than an area between the first perimeter unit and the third perimeter unit that face each other.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/335,463 filed Oct. 27, 2016, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 the priority benefit of Korean Patent Application No.10-2016-0079109 filed on Jun. 24, 2016, the subject matter of which isincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to an endoscopy system.

Description of the Related Art

An endoscope system requires a high degree of stability as it is usedfor medical internal check. The endoscopic system emits a light to theinside of a target object and senses a reflected light to generate acorresponding image of the inside of the target object.

At this time, since a doctor or an operator manipulates the endoscopesystem, as the size of the endoscope system becomes compact, theoperation of the endoscope system may be facilitated.

Accordingly, various studies to reduce the size of the endoscope systemare in progress.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure has been made in view of the above problems, andprovides an endoscope system with a structure that can reduce a size.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, an endoscopesystem includes: a first light source unit configured to be provided ona substrate, and to have a first terminal to which power is supplied; asecond light source configured to be provided on the substrate, and tohave a second terminal to which power is supplied; a light guide unitconfigured to guide a light of the first light source unit and thesecond light source unit to the inside of a target object; an imagesensing unit configured to sense the light reflected and reached fromthe target object to convert into an image signal; and an image signalprocessing unit configured to process the image signal to display on adisplay unit, wherein the first light source unit comprises a firstperimeter unit, and a second perimeter unit other than the firstperimeter unit, the second light source unit comprises a third perimeterunit, and a fourth perimeter unit other than the third perimeter unit,and the first terminal and the second terminal are provided in thesecond perimeter unit or the fourth perimeter unit other than an areabetween the first perimeter unit and the third perimeter unit that faceeach other.

In a case of including a plurality of the first light source units, thefirst terminal is provided in an area other than an area where theplurality of the first light source units face each other among an areaof the second perimeter unit.

In a case of including a plurality of the second light source units, thesecond terminal is provided in an area other than an area where theplurality of the second light source units face each other among an areaof the fourth perimeter unit.

The endoscope system further includes an optical unit configured toinput a light of the first light source unit and the second light sourceunit into an optical fiber.

The second perimeter unit is a side surface or a rear side surface ofthe first light source unit.

When the second perimeter unit is the rear side surface of the firstlight source unit, a via hole through which the first terminal passes isformed in an area of the substrate which is overlapped with the rearside surface of the first light source unit.

The fourth perimeter unit is a side surface or a rear side surface ofthe second light source unit.

When the fourth perimeter unit is the rear side surface of the secondlight source unit, a via hole through which the second terminal passesis formed in an area of the substrate which is overlapped with the rearside surface of the second light source unit.

The endoscope system further includes a plurality of the substrates, anda single optical fiber is provided for each substrate so that the lightof the first light source unit and the second light source unit of thesubstrate is input to the optical fiber.

The endoscope system further includes: a third light source unitconfigured to be provided on the substrate; a first optical fiber towhich the light of the first light source unit and the second lightsource unit is input; and a second optical fiber to which the light ofthe third light source unit is input.

The second light source unit does not emit light when the first lightsource unit emits light, and the second light source unit emits lightwhen the first light source unit does not emit light.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will bemore apparent from the following detailed description in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an implementation of an endoscope system according toan embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an endoscope system according toan embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 to FIG. 5 illustrate a light emitting unit of an endoscope systemaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 to FIG. 8 illustrate a comparative example of a light emittingunit of an endoscope system according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 illustrate a relationship between the light emittingunit and an optical fiber;

FIG. 11 illustrates a relationship between the light emitting unit, anoptical unit, and the optical fiber; and

FIG. 12 illustrates an example of a cross section of the light emittingunit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described withreference to the accompanying drawings in detail. The same referencenumbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or likeparts. Detailed descriptions of well-known functions and structuresincorporated herein may be omitted to avoid obscuring the subject matterof the present disclosure.

The terms and words used in the following description and claims are notlimited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by theinventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the presentdisclosure. It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,”and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictatesotherwise.

In the present disclosure, the terms such as “include” and/or “have” maybe construed to denote a certain characteristic, number, step,operation, constituent element, component or a combination thereof, butmay not be construed to exclude the existence of or a possibility ofaddition of one or more other characteristics, numbers, steps,operations, constituent elements, components or combinations thereof.

FIG. 1 illustrates an implementation of an endoscope system according toan embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 1, the endoscope system according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure may include a light emitting unit 10, an opticalfiber 15, a light guide unit 20, an image sensing unit 30, and an imagesignal processing unit 40.

The light emitting unit 10 may emit light of various wavelengths such asvisible light, ultraviolet rays, and infrared rays. The configuration ofthe light emitting unit 10 is described in more detail later.

The optical fiber 15 may provide a path for the light of the lightemitting unit 10 toward the light guide unit 20.

To this end, the optical fiber 15 may be connected to a handle 25, andthe handle 25 may be coupled to the light guide unit 20. A doctor or anoperator may manipulate the endoscope system according to an embodimentof the present disclosure through the handle 25.

The light guide unit 20 may induce the light generated by the lightemitting unit 10 to the inside of a target object. The target object maybe a person, an animal, a product, or the like, but it is not limitedthereto.

The image sensing unit 30 may sense the light which is reflected fromthe target object and convert the sensed light into an image signal. Tothis end, the image sensing unit 30 may include a charge-coupled device(CCD) or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS), but it is notlimited thereto.

The image signal processing unit 40 may process the image signal todisplay on a display unit (not shown) such as a monitor or TV.

The endoscopic system according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure is not limited to a structure of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an endoscope system according toan embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 2, the endoscope system according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure may include an endoscope 50 which can observe thelight of a specific wavelength, an image signal processing unit whichdrives the endoscope 50 and which processes a signal of an image pickedup by the endoscope 50, and a display unit 60 which displays the pick-upimage of a target object.

The endoscope 50 may include a flexible or a rigid insertion unit 50 athat is inserted into the target object at which light scarcely arrives,a handle 25 provided to the insertion unit 50 a, and a universal cordunit 50 c extended from the side of the handle 25, and may beelectrically connected to the image signal processing unit 40 throughthe universal cord unit 50 c.

In addition, a main body of the endoscope 50 may be mainly configured ofthe insertion unit 50 a and the handle 25, and the pickup image signaland control signals may be transmitted to the image signal processingunit 40 via a cable 1 a, 3 a.

The image sensing unit 30 such as CMOS or CCD, a motion detection sensor1 such as a gyro sensor or an acceleration sensor, and a forceps holemay be provided to an end of the insertion unit 50 a. Since the forcepshole is already well known, a description thereof is omitted.

The image sensing unit 30 may be connected to an image sensor driverthrough a bundled cable 3 a having a plurality of signal wires 3 a, andthe motion detection sensor 1 may also be connected via a cable 1 a.

The light guide unit 20 may be connected to the image signal processingunit 40 through the universal cord unit 50 c in the insertion unit 50 a.The light guide unit 20 may guide the light emitted from the lightemitting unit 10 to be outputted to the end of the insertion unit 50 a.

The image signal processing unit 40 is described only for componentsrelated to the image pickup, and a description of other generalcomponents needed for driving is omitted.

The image signal processing unit 40 may, at least, include an imagesensor driver, a gain amplifier, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), adigital signal processor (DSP), a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), anda controller (CPU).

The gain amplifier may amplify the image signal according to anappropriate gain. The analog-to-digital converter (ADC) may convert theamplified image signal into a digital signal. The digital signalprocessor (DSP) may perform the image processing for the image signal ofa digital signal type. The digital-to-analog converter (DAC) may convertthe image processed image signal into an analog signal.

The controller (CPU) may control the overall operation of the endoscopesystem according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and maycontrol the image processing procedure.

The light emitting unit 10 may be driven by receiving power by a driver,and the driver may be controlled by the controller (CPU).

In FIG. 2, an optical unit 500 may be provided between the lightemitting unit 10 and the optical fiber 15, but a light of the lightemitting unit 10 may be inputted to the optical fiber 15 without havingthe optical unit 500.

The structure of FIG. 2 is just an example of the endoscope systemaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure, but it is notlimited thereto.

In the following drawings, the light emitting unit 10 is mainly shownfor the convenience of explanation. As shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 5, thelight emitting unit 10 may include a first light source unit 100, asecond light source unit 200, and a substrate 400. In addition, thelight emitting unit 10 may further include a third light source unit300, and the third light source unit 300 is described in detail later.

The endoscopic system according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure may include the substrate 400, the first light source unit100, the second light source unit 200, the light guide unit 20, theimage sensing unit 30, and the image signal processing unit 40.

The first light source unit 100 may be provided in the substrate 400,and may have a first terminal 150 to which power is supplied.

The second light source unit 200 may be provided in the substrate 400,and may have a second terminal 250 to which power is supplied.

At this time, the first light source unit 100 and the second lightsource unit 200 may include LED, but not limited thereto and may have alight source other than LED.

The light guide unit 20 may guide the light of the first light sourceunit 100 and the second light source unit 200 to the inside of a targetobject.

The image sensing unit 30 may sense the light that is reflected andreached from the target object and convert the sensed light into animage signal.

The image signal processing unit 40 may process the image signal todisplay on a display unit.

Since the light guide unit 20, the image sensing unit 30, and the imagesignal processing unit 40 are described above in detail, a descriptionthereof is omitted.

The first light source unit 100 may include a first perimeter portion(L1), and a second perimeter portion (L2, L21, L22) other than the firstperimeter portion (L1). The second light source unit 200 may include athird perimeter portion (L3), and a fourth perimeter portion (L4, L41,L42) other than the third perimeter portion (L3).

For example, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the second perimeter portion (L2,L21, L22) may be extended from the first perimeter portion (L1), or maybe located opposite to the first perimeter portion (L1). The fourthperimeter portion (L4, L41, L42) may also be extended from the thirdperimeter portion (L3) or may be located opposite to the third perimeterportion (L3).

The first terminal 150 and the second terminal 250 may be provided inthe second perimeter portion (L2, L21) or the fourth perimeter portion(L4, L41, L42) other than an area between the first perimeter portion(L1) and the third perimeter portion (L3) that face each other.

Due to such a structure, a gap between the first light source unit 100and the second light source unit 200 may be reduced, such that the sizeof the substrate 400 and the light emitting unit 10 can be reduced. Thatis, as shown in FIG. 6, differently from the embodiment of the presentdisclosure, when the first terminal 150 and the second terminal 250exist between the first perimeter portion (L1) of the first light sourceunit 100 and the third perimeter portion (L3) of the second light sourceunit 200, the gap (G) between the first light source unit 100 and thesecond light source unit 200 may become larger, such that the size ofthe substrate 400 and the light emitting unit 10 may become larger.

In the case of FIG. 3, a single first light source unit 100 and a singlesecond light source unit 200 may be provided in the substrate 400. Inthe case of FIG. 4, two first light source units 100 and a single secondlight source unit 200 may be provided in the substrate 400. In the caseof FIG. 5, two first light source units 100 and two second light sourceunits 200 may be provided in the substrate 400.

At this time, the first terminal 150 and the second terminal 250 may beprovided in the second perimeter portion (L2, L21) and the fourthperimeter portion (L4, L41) other than an area between the firstperimeter portion (L1) and the third perimeter portion (L3) that faceeach other.

Differently from FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the number of the first light sourceunit 100 and the second light source unit 200 may be changed.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the endoscope system accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a plurality offirst light source units 100. In this case, the first terminal 150 maybe provided in an area (L21) other than an area (L22) where theplurality of first light source units 100 face each other among an area(L2, L21) of the second perimeter portion of the plurality of firstlight source units 100.

For example, as shown in FIG. 4(a), in the upper side, two first lightsource units 100 may be disposed on the substrate 400. In this case, thefirst light source unit 100 in the right side faces the second lightsource unit 200.

As explained above, the first terminal 150 and the second terminal 250are not provided between the first perimeter portion (L1) of the firstlight source unit 100 and the third perimeter portion (L3) of the secondlight source unit 200. In addition, the first terminal 150 is notprovided in the area (L22) of the first light source units 100 facingeach other among the area (L2, L21) of the second perimeter portion ofthe plurality of first light source units 100. The first terminal 150may be provided in the area (L21) other than the above mentioned area(L22).

Accordingly, the size of the substrate 400 and the light emitting unit10 may be decreased. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, differently from theembodiment of the present disclosure, when the first terminal 150 andthe second terminal 250 exist between the first perimeter portion (L1)of the first light source unit 100 and the third perimeter portion (L3)of the second light source unit 200, the gap (G1) between the firstlight source unit 100 and the second light source unit 200 may becomelarger, such that the size of the substrate 400 and the light emittingunit 10 may become larger.

Further, since the first terminal is disposed between the secondperimeter portions (L21) of the first light source units 100 facing eachother, the gap (G2) between the first light source units 100 may becomelarger. Accordingly, the size of the substrate 400 and the lightemitting unit 10 may become larger.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 5, the endoscope system according to anembodiment of the present disclosure may include a plurality of secondlight source units 200. In this case, the second terminal 250 may beprovided in an area (L41) other than an area (L42) where the pluralityof second light source units 200 facing each other among the area of thefourth perimeter portion (L4, L41, L42).

For example, as shown in FIG. 5(a), two first light source units 100 maybe disposed in the upper side, and two second light source units 200 maybe disposed in the lower side. The first terminal 150 and secondterminal 250 are not disposed between the first perimeter portion (L1)of the first light source unit 100 and the third perimeter portion (L3)of the second light source unit 200.

In addition, the first terminal 150 may not be disposed between thefacing second perimeter portions (L22) of the first light source units100, and the first terminal 150 may be provided in the remaining secondperimeter portions (L21).

Similarly, the second terminal 250 may not be disposed between thefacing fourth perimeter portions (L42) of the second light source units200, and the second terminal 250 may be provided in the remaining fourthperimeter portions (L42).

Accordingly, the size of the substrate 400 and the light emitting unit10 may become smaller.

Dissimilarly to this, as shown in FIG. 8, when the first terminal 150and the second terminal 250 are disposed between the facing first lightsource unit 100 and the second light source unit 200, the gap (G1)between the first light source unit 100 and the second light source unit200 may increase. In addition, when the first terminal 150 is disposedbetween the plurality of first light source units 100 and the secondterminal 250 is disposed between the plurality of the second lightsource units 200, the gap (G2) may increase.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 9, when the endoscope system according to anembodiment of the present disclosure includes a plurality of substrates400, the optical fiber 15 may be provided for each substrate 400 suchthat the light of the first light source unit 100 and the second lightsource unit 200 of the substrate 400 may be inputted to the opticalfiber 15.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 10, the endoscope system according to anembodiment of the present disclosure may further include a third lightsource unit 300 provided in the substrate 400, a first optical fiber15-1 to which the light of the first light source unit 100 and thesecond light source unit 200 is inputted, and a second optical fiber15-2 to which the light of the third light source unit 300 is inputted.

Since the diameter of the optical fiber 15 is small, as the lightemitting unit 10 or the substrate 400 becomes small, the possibilitythat the light is inputted to the optical fiber 15 may increase. Asdescribed above, in the case of the endoscope system according to anembodiment of the present disclosure, as the size of the substrate 400or the light emitting unit 10 is small, it is possible to increase theamount of light which is inputted to the optical fiber 15.

As shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, since the size of the substrate 400 andthe light emitting unit 10 is small, most of the light may be inputtedto the optical fiber 15 by reducing the distance between the lightemitting unit 10 and the optical fiber 15 even if there is no opticalunit 500 such as collimator.

Dissimilarly to this, as shown in FIG. 8, the endoscope system accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure may further include theoptical unit 500 which inputs the light of the first light source unit100 and the second light source unit 200 into the optical fiber 15.

In this case, the optical unit 500 may include a collimator, and mayenhance a light efficiency by inputting a parallel light which is madeby the light emitted by optical unit 500 to the optical fiber 15.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 5, the second perimeter portion(L2, L21, L22) may be the side surface of the first light source unit100, or, as shown in FIG. 12, may be the rear side surface of the firstlight source unit 100. Thus, when the second perimeter portion (L2, L21,L22) is the rear side surface of the first light source unit 100, a viahole through which the first terminal 150 passes may be formed in thesubstrate 400 area which is overlapped with the rear side surface of thefirst light source unit 100.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 5, the fourth perimeter portion(L4, L41, L42) may be the side surface of the second light source unit200, or, as shown in FIG. 12, may be the rear side surface of the secondlight source unit 200. Thus, when the fourth perimeter portion (L4, L41,L42) is the rear side surface of the second light source unit 200, a viahole through which the second terminal 250 passes may be formed in thesubstrate 400 area which is overlapped with the rear side surface of thesecond light source unit 200.

The cross-section according to A1-A2 is shown in the lower side of FIG.12, and reference numeral HR may be a heat ejection unit for ejectingheat of the first light source unit 100 and the second light source unit200.

Thus, when 100 at least one of the first terminal 150 provided in therear side of the first light source unit 100 and the second terminal 250provided in the rear side of the second light source unit 200 passesthrough the via hole, the size of the substrate 400 and the lightemitting unit 10 may become smaller.

Meanwhile, when the first light source unit 100 emits light, the secondlight source unit 200 may not emit light, and, when the first lightsource unit 100 does not emit light, the second light source unit 200may emit light.

That is, the first light source unit 100 may operate as a main lightsource of the endoscope system, and the second light source unit 200 mayoperate as a backup light source in the event of failure of the firstlight source unit 100. Accordingly, a stable operation of the endoscopesystem may be achieved.

The endoscopic system according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure can reduce a size by reducing a distance between a firstlight source and a second light source.

Hereinabove, although the present disclosure has been described withreference to exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings, thepresent disclosure is not limited thereto, but may be variously modifiedand altered by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosurepertains without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentdisclosure claimed in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An endoscope system comprising: a first lightsource unit configured to be provided on a substrate, and to have afirst terminal to which power is supplied; a second light source unitconfigured to be provided on the substrate, and to have a secondterminal to which power is supplied; an optical fiber configured toguide a light of the first light source unit and the second light sourceunit to a target object; an image sensing unit configured to sense thelight reflected and reached from the target object to convert into animage signal; and an image signal processing unit configured to processthe image signal to display on a display unit, wherein the firstterminal and the second terminal are disposed on an area in which thefirst light source unit and the second light source unit do not faceeach other, respectively, wherein the first light source unit and thesecond light source unit are disposed in a virtual opening region whichis extended from an opening of the optical fiber.
 2. The endoscopesystem of claim 1, further comprising an optical unit configured toinput light of the first light source unit and the second light sourceunit into the optical fiber.
 3. The endoscope system of claim 1, whereinthe area is a side surface of the first terminal and the second terminalor a rear side surface of the first terminal and the second terminal. 4.The endoscope system of claim 1, wherein the first light source unit andthe second light source unit includes LED, respectively.
 5. Theendoscope system of claim 1, wherein the second light source unit doesnot emit light when the first light source unit emits light, and thesecond light source unit emits light when the first light source unitdoes not emit light.